For many people, the New Year is a time to get in shape and start living a healthier lifestyle. However, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is to practice healthy habits all year around. Consistent, smart lifestyle choices will reduce the need to make a New Year's resolution in the first place. Experts say there are several tips that can make following a nutritious diet easier than one might think.

In Women's Health Magazine, nutritionist Lisa Drayer writes that she has met many women who have taken the steps to quit smoking, but are troubled by the weight that they put on as a result of calling it quits.

She states that this is often a symptom of kicking the habit, because of the effects that nicotine has on the body. The primary reasons for weight gain are likely to include the fact that cigarettes speed up the metabolism, burning more calories, and are also responsible for high levels of the calm-inducing neurotransmitter serotonin.